DogDad27

Little Miss Magic Thank You! Can’t wait to see her page.

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU! anyone else with a comment fire away. Got what I needed.. won’t be back.(that’s a lie, I’ll be back when I’m bored) I like to read and laugh at all the arguments people have in the comments. (Which I’m sure other service dog handlers are doing as well)

You want to know something else, we just take anything anyone has a comment about with a grain of salt because if we had to take the time to explain (even in comments) it’s not worth the energy, the ONLY reason I am taking the time now is because I WANT an answer and with the hopes someone reads everything I wrote I won’t have to page through 500 Comments before I can see my answer. If you knew how many times I have said in real life “that’s not my dog” you would die. Because we are asked THE SAME QUESTIONS OVER AND OVER. Some People are rude enough to come over to you while you are eating AND have food in your mouth to talk about the dog.

There is no license , ID, Verification available other than the fake ones you buy I on Amazon. WHICH I MYSELF bought just to shut the people up (Karen’s) THAT have comments to make to me or within an earshot of me. They see that fake thing that LOOKS official and say “oh that really is a service dog” you know why BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY KNOW EVERYTHING. NOBODY including service dog owners do not know the entire encyclopedia on service dogs. Because everyone’s disability (even if the same) has nothing to do with your specific dog. Same way people are different so are dogs. No 2 are the same. A lot of service dogs need a “correction” because they’re like a child with ADD a quick reminder “not supposed to do that” when people see that they ASSUME it’s not a service dog. Some even wear E-Collars because the handler don’t want to be verbal on their correction. My guy will get distracted and pull a little when he sees another dog. I have to say a quick “UT” and he’s right back in place. They are still an animal. People have children that forget the rules don’t they? What makes people think a dog is any different. It’s like a child that knows what they are allowed to do and what not to do. But occasionally don’t listen to what daddy told them until they get told “you don’t do that” this is a long reply because I’m hoping to educate people that think the know EVERYTHING about a service dog.. here is the 1 THING NONE OF THEM will do! They will not bite no matter what someone does to them!! Playful biting with the handler YES, viscous bite to harm. Only if another ANIMAL is harming them. Even then they will only snap at it if it continues to HURT them. Other than that. Anything else is possible. THEY ARE STILL ANIMALS. NOT ALL RULES APPLY TO EVERY SINGLE ONE.

The eyes on me comment was a joke…

Yes, that’s the number I called and also have Just from the answers (each one was different) I received from that number. I called a few times and got different answers each time so I didn’t want to keep calling. It was obvious either that weren’t FULLY informed OR (which I think is the real reason) if they tell you the wrong thing on the phone people will be on the ship having a fight with (and you know that type will ask) a supervisor screaming at them “THEY TOLD ME WHEN I CALLED” Thats probably why in both my calls and a few emails back and forth they didn’t tell me EXACT information other than “either on deck 4 or 5, they’ll let you know when you board” Maybe each ship has different rules but the one thing they are CERTAIN OF. There will DEFINITELY be at least one on the deck of where the running track is. Which on the Icon which is (even I forgot but KNOW FOR SURE it’s on 4 or 5). Im on Icon and I’m hoping to get an answer from them because besides being the largest it’s the only ship that has a dog crew member, so maybe on Icon they have made available a multiple choice of choices. As being it’s the largest ship, I can’t imagine only having one. They must have at least 3 (Aft, Mid, Forward) or then again, you never know. maybe just Mid. Who knows (other than someone that has been on that ship) I hope it’s not forward. because I booked Aft. Dog relief wasn’t on my mind when I booked. Price was.

Can anyone with a MEDIUM to LARGE breed service dog tell me their experience with Royal Caribbean. Or any service dog size. (I am asking large because I have a medium/large breed) This is my first cruise with RCCL with him. When I called their accommodation number they aren’t able to (or didn’t know) anything about the cypress relief box other than say ask when you board, could be deck 4 or 5 No specific answers, and I have a lot of questions, (also when you board and ask the hotel management they aren’t as informative, the person you ask may not know where ALL of them are) I have many questions. If you know the answers to any of these I’d appreciate to be as educated as I can BEFORE sailing. Here goes: Are they placed in outdoor areas ONLY? Do they limit to a specific area and only one location of their choice? Are they in the “crew only” areas or open to the public areas OR BOTH? Do/will they place one (in the first appropriate area) that YOU request one to be? Are they communal? If so, can you request one designated for your use only? Next Topics; On the pool deck how close to the pool are they permitted (I know they are not allowed in of course) I reserved casitas the entire week so he can have shade (and be away from children that want to play with him) Which is why I’d like to know about this… They only say in the information page that crew is “not required” to accommodate them. Makes sense. However they do not say if crew are “allowed to” watch them (if you find an off duty crew member that’s willing to or you can pay to watch them) Does RCCL HAVE a service upon reservation to watch them if you make prior arrangements to do so (free or payment required ) Are you allowed to leave them unattended in the cabin (if so is there a time limit) No swimming for me if none of the above available lol. I hate having to ask someone all these questions when I board because I don’t want them to think I’m asking for special treatment. As you see I have a ton of questions, when you ask that many questions it can appear like I am looking to have those things or disappointed they don’t have those things. I’ve traveled others but this is my first cruise with RCCL. I am sailing on Icon and they have a dog crew member “Rover” which leads me to assume they have made Icon as accommodating as possible for her. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THINK YOU ARE FULLY EDUCATED ON SERVICE DOGS, UNLESS YOU HAVE ONE, I ASSURE YOU, YOU ARE NOT. Just because you read something somewhere, or because you know someone that has one, you are NOT FULLY versed FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT LIE AND SAY YOURS IS A SERVICE DOG, SHAME ON YOU, you have no idea how hard you have made the lives of us that need/have one. The public knows you are lying and that amazon sells those vests and fake ID cards. STOP trying to pass your PET or ESA off as a TASK TRAINED SERVICE DOG. there is an HUGE DIFFERENCE between ESA and SERVICE

When my service dog is “off duty” I allow people to pet him. 80% of people are aware they need to ask first. I am not going to yell at a child or parent in front of their child if they come over and pet him while I am not observing (which is 99% of the time, I do not have to keep my eyes on him) I do not always have his “service dog” vest on because I am not required to, and I do not like to advertise that I am disabled, if people want to think he is a “pet” do be it. There are people that ask “how is he allowed here” THOSE people I will tell he is a service dog, those are the only people I tell he is a service dog. Do I “break the rules” as far as doing things I was told by the trainers not to do. As long as it doesn’t affect his task training or behavior. Yes I do because my belief is, for what that dog GIVES ME. And freedom I have because that dog is in my life. I will give that dog the best life I can give him because he deserves that. How would you feel if you had no choice on your life other than work? He gets as much “off duty” as I can give him. If people want to pet him, it does not affect him or myself in any way, 100% of the time he completely ignores them, being pet isn’t even a “treat” for him but it does make my life less confrontational (why am I going to yell at someone “ DONT TOUCH HIM” if I don’t have to. As far as feeding him from the table, I will order him his own rib eye steak, I cut it into pieces and sneak it to him under the table, he just lays there and again, he doesn’t even react to it or beg for it, he knows better. THAT IS A TRUE SERVICE DOG nothing at all phases them, everything and everyone is ignored because his focus is always on ME. THATS what he’s there for MY NEEDS. I will give him the best life I can give him! He deserves that! Look where his eyes are focused in this picture